Shipping container



p 1949- v D; IQMGKENZIE 23,481,855

, SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 8, 1946 I 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTORngyms I.M9KENZIE F IG" 2 $7M ATTORNEYS eptu 13, 1949. D. 1. MCKENZIE2,481,355

' SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 8, 1946 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORATTORNEYS DENNES I. MSKENZIE Sept. 13, 1949. 0.1. MCKENZIE SHIPPINGCONTAINER Filed June 8, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR DENNIS I .MKENZIE ATTORNEYS Sept. 13 1949. v D. 1. M KENZIE 2,481,855

' v I SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 8, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.|3

INVENTOR mm 1. MKENZEE ATTORNEYS 3 in which articles may be supportedwithin the container without the use of auxiliary supports but whereinthe basic units illustrated in Figure 3 still form the side walls of thecontainer.

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view of thestructure illustrated in Figure 5, taken along 'line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view of the structureillustrated in Figure 5, taken along line 9-9 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a top horizontal cross-sectional view of the structureillustrated in Figure'5, taken along line iii-l of Figure 5.

Figure 11 is a perspective elevational view simia lar to Figure 1illustrating a slightly modified arrangement of the end wall structurethereof for placing an article within the container supported by guidingspacers at the corners of the shipping container.

Figure 12 is atop 'plan view of the carton shown in Figure 11 withthecarton fiaps open and topframe section removed. I

Figure 13 is a perspective elevational view of the shipping containerillustrated in Figure 11 showing the arrangement ;of. the retainingstraps. around the same.

- With reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the shippingcontainer |0 is a conventional fiber board, or corrugated; cardboardcarton having the side walls ll and I2, a bottom wall IS, a, top wall.Mand end walls I and IE. The bottom wall H of the carton is closed bythe flaps |3a and I322 that extendfrom the side walls l2 andrespectively and the end flaps 13c and |3d which extend from the endWalls l5 and Hi;

respectively. The top wall I2 is closed by corresponding flaps arrangedin the same manner as those referred to in the bottom wall, howeverflaps I20. and |2d are illustrated in Figure 1. The fiber boardcontainer is adapted to be sealed by the usual type of paper or sealstraps l1 and |8,'in a conventional manner.

It will thus be seen that the cardboard container, or shipping carton,forms a conventional container constructed in the usual manner for suchcontainers. w I

It is not commercially practical to ship heavy articles in a fiber boardor corrugated cardboard cartonbecause of the danger of rupture to thewalls upon engagement of the article with the wall of thecontainer.Also, such containers are subject to crushing. 1 I Inthis inventiontherefore-a wood frame is placed within the shipping container forreenforcing, the walls of thecontainer and for carry: ing the weight ofan article contained therein. Thewood frame is constructed and arrangedwith interlocked corners in such a manner that the frame is assembledwithin the shipping container without the use of auxiliary fasteningdevices. The wood frame is constructed of two basic units illustrated inFigures 3 and 4, when the carton or-shipping container is of rectangularshape. The unit 20, illustrated in Figure 3, is adapted to be used foreither the side walls |2 and-ll or the top and bottom walls l3 and I4 ofthe shipping container illustrated in Figure 1. The unit 25, illustratedin Figure 4 forms the end walls| 5 and le'of the reenforcing frame. TThe unit 2!] consists of the side rails 2| and. 22 joined together bythe end rails 23 and 24, suitable nails or screws being utilized forholding the respective rails together. 'It will be noted that the end;rails 23 and 24 are inset relative to the ends of the side rails 2| and22 by an amount equal to the thickness of the side rails26 and 21' ofthe unit 25, as illustrated in Figure 1. The end rails 23 and 29 of theunit 25 are also inset rela- From theforegoing description of the units2i? and 25 it will be quite apparent that 'if the shipping container isa square container, instead of rectangular as illustrated, that four ofthe units 25 can be utilized for reenforcing four linearly contiguouswalls 'ofthe shipping container.

Toassemble the frame sections within a shipping container preparatory toplacing an article therein for shipment, a frame section 29 is placedupon the bottom wall l3 of the container If! in an inverted positionfrom that illustrated in Figure 3, Thus the end rails 23 and 24 will befacing upwardly in this instance. A pair of units 25 are then placedadjacentthe end walls l5 and 16 of the container ill, with the lowerends of the side rails 26 and 27 supported upon the extending ends ofthe siderails 2|. and 22 of the frame section 28 and confined betweenthe end walls ofthe; J shipping container and the end rails 23 and 24'of the unit 25 and with the end rail 29 .ofth'e unit .25 resting uponthe end rails 23' and 24 of the 'unit 28... Thus, there is provided anoven-.- lapping and interlocking joint between the units: Efi'and 25along the bottom edges of the end walls leand N.

A second section 20. is then placed upon the: upper edges of thesections 25 with the extending" ends of the second section 20overlapping the upper ends of the sections 25, in the same manner asheretofore described with reference to the lower a corner.

It will of course be understoodthat beforethe top wall section is put inposition, thefarticle to be shipped is placed within the shippingcon- Vtainer. The flaps for the top around the closed 's'hippingcontainer,HJ,as il e lustratecl in Figure 52, with theretaining straps extendingaround the container in a direction linearly contiguous with the siderails of-,th e,

frame units 20 and 25, thus'preventing theend frame sections 25 breakingthrough the end walls 7 l5 and it of the shipping container, the straps,3|] binding'the joints at the four corners of'the:

box into a rigidstructural unit.

To support a heavy object, such as the. tank 3| illustrated in dottedlines in Figure 1, directly upon the frame, auxiliary support members-32and 3 3 may be provided between 1 the side rails: 2| and 22 of thebottom frame unit'2fl, the-tank; 3| being securely fastened' to theauxiliary 's'up portmembers 32 and 33 to vprevent shifting thereofwithinv the shipping container.

l Referring now to Figure 5, the shipping'conQ tainer ,5 8a is ofidentical, construction with; that disclosed in Figure 1, but in thisinstancethe frame units 25 .and f '25 have been arranged around the fourlinearly contiguous walls 'o'f the container consisting-of thesidewallsand end? walls in place of. the four linearly contiguous, walls.consistingof the top and" bottom was, and end .walls' as illustrated inFigure Figure 5 the frame sections .an d;th'e; side andi' en'd railsthereof have been given the same ref? 7 p 7 wall l2 are then nosed rupon the top frame section 20 in the .same,

' frame sections 26: and 25 are basic to the.- two shipping; containersvand to the. two methods oi assembly thereof. V 1 11 vAlso, it ,,will benoted. that, the retaining. straps 311 o n the shipping container Ilia,illustrated in. Fi ure. 6 are positioned :90 from-the: p i f illustratedin Figure to thusretain he assemblytogether in the samemanneras-heretofore. de-; scribed From the foregoin description ofthe-arr n e ment of the basic frame sections and 25, it wills-also,beapparent that. either. end Wall. {5 0r. 1620f: the shipping;container. It could. be: a top wall with. the Side wallsof the shippingcontainer reenforced by the frame sections 253 either in the positionillustrated in; Figural or in,- the position illustrated} in Figure 5.In. either. instance the and frame. sections; 2.5 areremovable to.allow-insertion and removal of; anarticl'eto be shipped in acoritainer.s Ihus, byt the use. of'thebasic; units, 2d and invthainstance ofuzarectangular container or'bythe. use of all ofzthe units; 25. initheinstance of a. square shipping container,- it. apparent. that any.selected.v side at the shipping container. can beleft open for insertionand removal of the article tobe shipped and mayi-be. arranged forselective support of the article within the conta'iner. i

With the frame sections. it: and -25placed=jin the. shipping container.in. the manner illustrated in Figure 5, it is'possibl'e to support anarticle within the shipping container between opposite side walls orenu'walls of the container while all owing: entry of the article into.the-container through the top wall thereof.

As illustrated in Figure 5., the shipping container hasbeen adapted forshipment of an outboard motor 35, illustrated in dotted" lines therein.Each. ofthe frame-sections filla are provided with a pair ofcrosamembers46 and 4'! that form a slot 42 thereb'etwcen. I transversely' extendingsupportmember is. positioned between the members 45- and 4 l a; flangebeing provided oneach end of the member 43 for positioning in the slots42. The member 43 is retained in an elevated position upon engagement ofthe flanges 44 with the bottoms of the slots 42.

As will be noted in Figure 5 members 44 and 45 corresponding to members40 and M are placed at the opposite end of the container Ida and amember 45 corresponding to member 43 extends therebetween.

The members 43 and 46 are adapted to support the article, such as theoutboard motor 35.

To provide for entry of the flanges 44 into the slots 42, andcorresponding flanges on the member 46 into the corresponding slotbetween members 44 and 45, the side walls of the shipping container arespread slightly to allow entry of the members 43 and 46 into theirrespective slots.

After placement of the article Within the 6. shippingcontainer, members411 andjgda are placed: the slots between the members 40, 4 l 44 and:45., The members. lland 48- are provided with flanges 49 and. 502respectively ;.wh-ich:entgr therespecti-ve slots for; thesarne whenthe-side walls of the .cont rin erare spread slightly;- The upper endsofthe flanges4 9 andtllengage. the upper side. railsof the frame sections:2511 to thusprevent removal of the members '41 and -48 from theirrespective positions. The struc;

ture, therefore; is such that. the outboard motor, or other article isretained within the shipping container fully supported bythezframesectionsand-withoutengagement of" the article with thewalls ofthe. container-in such a-manner that would a-llow the article tobreakthrough the wallsof the container; 5 4 To prevent the side. wallsv lland I2a of the container Illa from spreading duringshipment, metal;retaining straps. 49?. are provided around the container in substantialalignmentwith the members 43-, 46,41-and 48. I r While-the articleillustrated withinthe contain.- er hasbeen referred to as an outboardmotor-yet it will be understood that by merely changing the.configuration of the edges of the members 43, 4e, 41. and. thatengage-the article to-be supported within. the container. that anyarticle-having any contour can be retained in the container in the samemanner as heretofore. illustratedsand described. w

In Figure 7 there shown a slightly modified arrangement of theauxiliarysupport means for carrying. an article within the shipping. container,as for-example,v when it. is desired to support adevice at thev fourcorners thereof. In this arrangement the frame sections 23a and 25a.arethesameas heretofore disclosedand described and are arranged in. thesame manner as that shown in Figure 5.

However,v in Figure 7 a support member. 51; is provided parallel to theside rail 21a on the opposite. side of the end rails. 28a and 29a.Withthe frame sections 20a and. 25a assembled .as. illus-, trated inFigure 5, a device having corners thereon may beguidedby the fourvertical corners oi the, assembled framesections and be supported uponthe support members 5L i InFiguresll. to. 13 there. is illustratedashipping container in most respects similar to vthat disclosed inFigure 1 exceptv that the end frame sections. 25 illustrated in Figure 1I are modified slightlyin structure and location to provide for avertical guiding supportof an object placed within the shippingcontainer In the form of the device illustrated in the Figures 11' to 13the shipping container Nib is identical to that disclosed and describedin Figure 1. Also, the frame sections 2% forming the top and bottomwalls of the shipping container are constructed in the same manner asthe frame sections 20 illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

Under certain circumstances it may be desired to provide for a definitespaced guiding support for an object of manufacture. In this instancethe end frame sections 60 corresponding to the end frame sections 25 areprovided with end rails BI and 62 that have the side edges thereofextending beyond the ends of the side rails 63 and 64. Also, it will benoted that the position of the end rails BI and 62 is reverse of that ofthe end rails 28 and 29 illustrated in Figure 1, thus placing the siderails 63 and 64 toward the inside of the shipping container I Db.Auxiliary support and guide members 65 and 66 are secured to the rails63 illustrated in Figure 11 the vertical weight of the object placedtherein will be carried by the bottom frame section 2%, or the topframe'section depending upon the position of the shipping conon the endframe sections 60.

While the structure of the device disclosed and described hereinconstitutes a preferred form of the invention; yet it will be understoodthat the device is capable of mechanical alteration without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, and that all modifications that fallwithin the scope of the appended claims are intended to be includedherein. r I Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by LettersPatentis: 7 we 1. In combination,'acontainer having nonself-supporting walls when placed under load of thearticle adapted to be carried therein, a skeleton frame structureremovably disposed in said container consisting of a plurality ofindividual unattached frame sections positioned adjacent linearlycontiguous walls of the container, each of said frame sectionsconsisting of a pair of spaced side rails joined by end rails disposedin inset relationship to the ends of said side rails, said sectionsdisposed in endwise engaging relationship with the side rails and endrails thereof in'overlapping interlocking engagement to prevent inwardcollapse of the separable frame structure and prevented from outwardseparation by the walls of said container, a retaining strap around theexterior of said container engaging said linearly contiguous wallsnormal to the engaging edges of said frame sections to bind saidoverlapping joints together and relieve the walls of said container ofpressure of said'frame sections upon tendency of them to separate whenloaded with the weight 'ofthe article for shipv1 tainer, and transversethrust of the object will be taken by the L-shaped guide supports formedE Number ment in the container, removable supportmembers' extendingbetween frame sections disposed {against opposite walls of saidcontainer and carried wholly by the said frame sections for fullysupporting an object thema net-mer es. said support members-havingextensions thereon making said support members of greater length ,thanthe distance between the side-rails of said opposite frame sections forengaging the side' rails to lock the said support-members therebe tween.7 h V.

2.-In combination, a container having nonself-supporting wallswhenplaced under load-of the article adapted to be carried therein, askeleton frame structure removablydisposed in said containerconsistingof a plurality of individual unattached frame sectionspositioned adjacent linearly contiguous walls of the'containfer, each ofsaid frame sectionsconsisting of a pair of spaced side rails joined byend rails disposed in inset relationship to the ends of said siderrails,said sections disposed in endwise engagingrela tionship with the siderails and end rails thereof in overlapping interlocking engagement toprevent inward collapse of V the separable frame structure andpreventedfrom outward separation by the walls of said container, aretaining strap around the exterior ofsaid-container engaging saidlinearly contiguous Wallsnormal to. the en-J gaging edgesof said framesections to bind said overlapping joints together and relieve the wallsof said container of pressure of said frame sections upon tendency ofthem to separateframe 7 sections disposed against opposite walls of saidcontainer and carried wholly by the said frame sections for fullysupporting an object in the container thereon, said support membershaving'extensions thereon making said support members of greaterlength-.than-the distance between the side rails of saidopposite-framesections forlengaging the side rails to lock the. saidsupport members therebetween, andguiderails on said oppoe i site framesections for disposing said support members in predetermined positionbetweensaid opposite frame sections- V I v DENNIS 1. CKE ZI j REFERENCESCITED' vThe following references ,are of record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED sTATEs AT NT Namev l a Date 1,990,788, Kells Feb. 12, 19352,249,270 Boeye July 15', 1941 2,276,495 Kenfield Mar. 17,1942 2,280,155Luce Apr. 21, 1942 2,285,873 RObGI'tS June 9, 1942 2,319,641

Speir, Jr. ,May 18,1943

